Special Item (Mario Kart series)
Special Item | |
---|---|
![]() Mario's special item from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | |
First appearance | Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003) |
Latest appearance | Mario Kart Tour (2019) |
Effect | Varies for each character. |
A Special Item is the name applied to certain item that is obtainable only to a specific character or group of characters. Unlike a standard item, most of these items can be obtained in any place during a race, and while a character holds a special item in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, the second character cannot have another special item from Item Boxes.
History
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Special items make their debut in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Characters have special items exclusive to them. A certain special item is given to one of the two characters. Though some characters seem to have a personal power-up used only by them, some share the same function like the other's weapon. Petey Piranha and King Boo are the only characters who can receive any special item excluding Green Fireball and Birdo's Egg (due to the Mario Bros. and Yoshi and Birdo each having their own exclusive version of their special item while all other pairs have no difference in items). Additionally in Battle mode, all characters are able to use all the special items, but only Luigi can get a Green Fireball while only Birdo can get a Magenta Egg.
A Yoshi's Egg, Bowser's Shell, and Bob-omb also make a cameo as rainbow decorations in the background of Rainbow Road. Due to a mistake, the Heart decoration was misplaced out of the course where it cannot be seen in normal gameplay; however, it can be viewed through hacking.
Petey Piranha & King Boo
Any special item, excluding Green Fireballs and Birdo's Egg
1 - Special items would become a regular item in future Mario Kart titles.
2 - Special Items were already regular items prior to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart Arcade GP
Special items appear in Mario Kart Arcade GP. They are specific to certain characters with each character having six special items. All special items must be unlocked by winning races.
Item | Character | Category |
---|---|---|
Star | Mario and Luigi | Status |
Hammer | Mario and Luigi | Melee |
Fireball | Mario and Luigi | Shoots forward or backward |
Chain Chomp | Mario and Luigi | Lock-on shot |
Block | Mario and Luigi | Drops backward |
Special Coin | Mario and Luigi | Status |
Star Mark Banana | Donkey Kong | Status |
10T Hammer | Donkey Kong | Melee |
Barrel | Donkey Kong | Shoots forward or backward |
Giant Banana | Donkey Kong | Drops backward |
Conga | Donkey Kong | Other |
Delicious Banana | Donkey Kong | Status |
Shell Body | Bowser | Status |
Flaming Tender | Bowser | Other |
Bowser Shell | Bowser | Shoots forward or backward |
Thwomp | Bowser | Drops backward |
Bullet Bill | Bowser | Shoots backward |
Meat | Bowser | Status |
Wario Car | Wario | Status |
Stretch Punch | Wario | Melee |
Bob-omb | Wario | Drops backward |
Snot Bomb | Wario | Shoots forward or backward |
Fart Gas | Wario | Drops backward |
Garlic | Wario | Status |
Miracle Mushroom | Toad | Status |
Mushroom Hammer | Toad | Status |
Mushroom Powder | Toad | Drops backward |
Poison Mushroom | Toad | Shoots forward or backward |
Sick Mushroom | Toad | Shoots backward |
Fine Mushroom | Toad | Status |
Egg Body | Yoshi | Status |
Whacking Fan | Yoshi | Melee |
Mystery Egg | Yoshi | Drops backward |
Rolling Egg | Yoshi | Shoots forward or backward |
Tongue | Yoshi | Other |
Melon | Yoshi | Status |
Power Pill | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Status |
Quack Hammer | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Melee |
Rally-X | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Drops backward |
Galaga Boss | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward |
Pooka | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward or backward |
Fairy | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Status |
Princess's Drink | Peach | Status |
Frying Pan | Peach | Melee |
Piranha Plant | Peach | Drops backward |
Peach's Bird | Peach | Shoots forward or backward |
Heart | Peach | Other |
Cake | Peach | Status |
Monster Shield | Blinky | Status |
Monster's Hammer | Blinky | Melee |
Flare Ball | Blinky | Drops backward |
Petit Monster | Blinky | Shoots forward or backward |
Ghost Morph | Blinky | Status |
Monster Pill | Blinky | Status |
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Special items return in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. Mario Coins can be collected to unlock character-exclusive special items.
Item | Character | Category |
---|---|---|
Star | Any character | Status |
Hammer | Mario and Luigi | Melee |
Fireball | Mario and Luigi | Shoots forward or backward |
Chain Chomp | Mario and Luigi | Lock-on shot |
10T Hammer | Donkey Kong | Melee |
DK Barrel | Donkey Kong | Shoots forward or backward |
Giant Banana | Donkey Kong | Drops backward |
Shell Body | Bowser | Status |
Flaming Tender | Bowser | Other |
Bowser Shell | Bowser | Shoots forward or backward |
Thwomp | Bowser | Drops backward |
Wario Car | Wario | Status |
Stretch Punch | Wario | Melee |
Bob-omb | Wario | Drops backward |
Snot Bomb | Wario | Shoots forward or backward |
Mushroom Hammer | Toad | Status |
Mushroom Powder | Toad | Drops backward |
Poison Mushroom | Toad | Shoots forward or backward |
Egg Body | Yoshi | Status |
Whacking Fan | Yoshi | Melee |
Rolling Egg | Yoshi | Shoots forward or backward |
Tongue | Yoshi | Other |
Rally-X | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Drops backward |
Galaga Boss | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward |
Pooka | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward or backward |
Frying Pan | Peach | Melee |
Piranha Plant | Peach | Drops backward |
Peach's Bird | Peach | Shoots forward or backward |
Monster's Hammer | Blinky | Melee |
Flare Ball | Blinky | Drops backward |
Petit Monster | Blinky | Shoots forward or backward |
Bagubagutchi | Mametchi | Drops backward |
Chibi Syrup | Mametchi | Lock-on shot |
Mame Block | Mametchi | Shoots forward or backward |
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Special items reappear in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. However, unlike previous entries, after a character is selected, it is randomly assigned to a special item during a race. Palette swaps of characters will enable the use of an exclusive item only available to that swap.
Palette swap exclusives
Red Yoshi
Egg LauncherHero Don-chan
Shield
Mario Kart Tour
Special items reappear in Mario Kart Tour, now assigned to drivers as "special skills". Gold Mario can only use his special item, the Coin Box, in Coin Rush on N64 Frappe Snowland.